If Prescott senior Cole Platson does not have a nickname yet, his fellow Cardinals could start calling him "Hughie." Hughie Jennings played Major League Baseball for six different teams from 1891-1912 and one more year in 1918. Hughie was inducted, posthumously, into the Hall of Fame in 1945, but he is most known for holding the all-time MLB season and career records for being hit by a pitch. Ole' Hughie was hit 51 times in 1896 and 287 times over his 22-year playing career. If Hughie Jennings is the King of Knocked-down, Platson is the Prince of Plunked.   

Last Tuesday in Prescott for a Middle Border Conference baseball game against St. Croix Central, Platson had a baseball burrowed in his back by Panther pitcher Eli Babler in the bottom of the sixth inning. 

After Platson was pegged and he began trotting to first base, he looked toward his dugout, held up three fingers and said, "That's three times!"

It was a bittersweet bruised smirk for Platson, as his epidermis would resemble the Cardinal maroon on his jersey Wednesday morning.

Platson has been pegged four times in 10 games this season. If those totals are extrapolated over Hughie Jennings' 154-game record-setting MLB season, Platson would have 61 stitching tattoos.       

Platson did score a run in the bottom of the third on a single by senior Aidan Dorau. That was all starting senior pitcher Dain Pechacek would need.

Pechacek, who is 4-0 this season on the mound, was mixing in a mid-80's (MPH) fastball to go along with a curveball and slider. Sixty-five of his 86 pitches were for strikes. 

"I threw both of them (curveball and slider) really confident today," said Pechacek. "I just throw pitch by pitch. I guess I don't really think about the stats."

If Pechacek isn't thinking about his statistics, someone should. They are dominant. The 6'3" Thor-looking righthander is blessed with golden locks and a golden arm. Pechacek threw a complete-game shutout against St. Croix Central. He gave up just two hits and struck out 11. In 20 innings pitched this season, Pechacek has not surrendered an earned run. He actually hasn't even given up any runs. Goose eggs across the board. Opposing hitters are batting a paltry .103 against him. Pechacek has the same stoic look on his face whether it’s after a double by Brett Graese, the only hard-hit Panther ball of the afternoon, or an overmatched strikeout. There has been many more of the latter. Pechacek has given up just seven hits all season compared to 26 strikeouts.

"He (Pechacek) is just so consistent," said Prescott Head Coach Jeff Ryan. "He's one of the best around."

"He's a phenomenal pitcher," said junior first baseman Max Monteith. "Dain is going to bring us a long way this year."

While Pechacek was mopping up on the mound, Monteith made the play of the game in the field. After Graese gave the Panthers some last gasp life in the top of the seventh with a one-out double, Cohen Wester hit a routine ground ball to first base that ricocheted off a cleat-crater like Evel Knievel trying to jump a bus barn. Monteith's quick-twitch calves leaped up and stabbed it with his glove.

"I didn't expect that hop at all," said Monteith, "I don't know what it hit."

It landed in his glove and a step on first for out number two. The next Panther batter, Gabe Linder, grounded out to Dorau to end the game.

Ryan's squad were the cardiac Cardinals on Tuesday, as Prescott scored three runs in three different innings with two outs. Senior Barrett Temmers was 3 for 4 at the plate with two 2-out RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings. Monteith had a 2-out RBI single scoring Deitrich Eich in the second. Pechacek was 2 for 4, including a bunt single. Eich was 1 for 2 with two runs scored. 

Prescott cruised to a 4-0 conference win on Tuesday.

Friday, April 25: Prescott-2, St. Croix Central-0

Platson wasn't beaned on Friday, as the Cardinals traveled to St. Croix Central. Platson was on the mound this time, handing out bruised egos for the Panther bats.

Platson went the distance, allowing just three hits and striking out nine to lead the way for a Prescott 2-0 win. Dorau was 3 for 3 at the plate with an RBI. Pechacek was 1 for 4 with a run scored. Monteith was 1 for 3 with a run scored.

The Cardinals improved to 8-2 overall and 4-2 in Middle Border Conference play. They will travel to Altoona on Thursday and Hastings on Saturday before returning home to host Amery next Tuesday.